The release of Canadian diplomatic cables has cast new light on the military crackdown in Beijing, but one assertion in them — that top Chinese officials asked the Swiss ambassador about transferring large sums abroad — has been disputed.

Bao Tong, a former adviser to the liberal Communist Party chief Zhao Ziyang, drew some parallels between Hong Kong’s protests and those in Beijing in 1989. He also called on protesters to take a break and regroup.

A public interest lawyer, Chang Boyang, has been charged with “suspicion of illegal commercial activities” after attempting to defend several attendees at a meeting discussing the 1989 Tiananmen democracy movement, lawyers said.